Lake Eufaula

Fish and Fishing in Lake Eufaula (Walter F. George Reservoir) "Bass Fishing Capital of the World"

Most anglers south of the Mason-Dixon Line think of Lake Eufaula when they hear the phrase “Bass Fishing Capital of the World.”   Even though the largemouth bass population at Eufaula has had its up’s and down’s since the hey days of the 1960s and 1970s, this lake is still considered one of the true gems of the south. Walter F. George Dam was completed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1962, forming the 45,181-acre impoundment on the fertile Chattahoochee River. The reservoir extends from the Walter F. George Dam at Ft. Gaines, Georgia, northward to Phoenix City, Alabama.  Since this lake is shared by Georgia and Alabama, these states agreed that either a Georgia or an Alabama fishing license could be used when fishing Lake Eufaula.

Sampling during March of 2008 revealed an increase of largemouth bass from 16 to 20 inches. Forty-six percent of the adult bass collected exceeded the current 14-inch minimum length limit; however, only four percent were larger than 20 inches. Eufaula is still expected to produce excellent fishing for largemouth bass, but bass over 5 pounds may be a little harder to find than in the past.

Anglers are encouraged to harvest some largmouth bass over the 14-inch minimum length limit and spotted bass (no size limit) for the table. Angler surveys in 2005 found that over 92% of legal size bass were released by anglers. Moderate harvest is needed to thin down the bass population to allow bass to grow to largers sizes. Data analysis from the 2007 spring sample indicated fishing mortality was low. Length limit evaluation indicated that the current 14-inch minimum length is still the best option for Lake Eufaula.

Spotted bass are generally found in deeper areas such as bluff banks, deep points, and structure around creek and river channel ledges. Popular baits for spotted bass are finesse worms, Carolina rigged soft plastics, and deep diving crankbaits. Alabaam Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division (AWFF) will direct more effort toward spotted bass sampling, as they appear to be increasing in Lake Eufaula.

Black crappie are another favorite fish for Lake Euifaula anglers. This lake usually produces excellent crappie fishing, especially in the spring when the crappie are moving into shallow water to spawn. Crappie in Lake Eufaula often start staging in the creek mouths as early as February during typical winters, and moving into the creeks to spawn from mid-March though mid-April. Anglers usually have great success in the early spring by slowly trolling jigs or minnows across creek channels, then fishing around shallow bank structures as the crappie begin to spawn. Crappie anglers also enjoy lots of action from late spring through early summer by fishing deep structure (20-35 feet is usually deep by Eufaula standards).  Fishing for crappie at night using lights over the water is also popular and cooler than daytime fishing in the summer, see video on night crappie fishing. 

During the 2008 fish survey that was onducted by AWFF in mid-March, crappie had moved shallow and were holding around brush and vegetation. The crappie sample in 2008 consisted oa all size groups of fish; however, the majority of the crappie ranged from 6 to 9 inches. As indicated in previous sampling efforts, the number of Lake Eufaula crappie 12 inches and larger is still higher than other Alabama reservoirs.

Eufaula also has an abundant catfish population made up mainly of channel catfish, with some blue catfish and white catfish also present. Based on early angler sruvey observations, the spring and summer of 2008 are shaping up to be excellent for catfish anglers, with anglers reporting good catch rates on worms and cut-bait.

Largemouth bass, spotted bass, hybrid striped bass, and striped bass often chase schools of shad along the flats at Old Creek Town Park, and near the dam fore-bay as early as July. Anglers should watch for flocks of sea gulls diving to the surface as an indicator of schooling activity.

Anglers in the Gin Creek area of Eufaula caught several tilapia in the summer of 2006. Sampling by Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries did not find a breeding tilapia population. Anglers are encouraged to contact the District VI Fisheries Office at (334)347-9467 for reports of exotic species. Email pictures, if available.  If you have other questions about Lake Eufaula, contact us.

The major city on the reservoir is Eufaula, Alabama, located along U.S. Highway 431.  Eufaula contains a variety of restaurants, hotels, and shopping centers. The city also boasts a wealth of historic attractions and festivals that can be accessed by contacting the Eufaula Chamber of Commerce at 1-800-524-7529, or on-line at www.eufaula-barbourchamber.com.  Many beautiful homes and developments are found along the reservoir from the Eufaula area south to the dam, but it is nature’s beauty that captures the imagination in the northern section of the lake.

The undeveloped northern section of Lake Eufaula includes Lakepoint State Park and Eufaula National Wildlife Refuge (Eufaula NWR). Just north of the City of Eufaula, Lakepoint State Park is a picturesque 1,220-acre park offering year round hotel, cabin, and camping accommodations, an 18-hole golf course, 2 boat access sites, a fully stocked marina, and many more attractions. It is easy to see why Lakepoint State Park hosts fishing touraments nearly every weekend. The park also has catch-and-release facilities available for touraments to reserve. Lakepoint State Park headquarters is located off US Highway 431, seven miles north of Eufaula, and can be contacted by calling (334) 687-8011.

Just north of Lakpoin State Park is the 11,160-acre Eufaula NWR, headquartered on Highway 165, approximately 10 miles north of Eufaula. The Eufaula NWR provides visitors with excellent opportunities for hiking, hunting, fishing, or observing wildlife. The Eufaula Refuge Manager can be contacted at (334) 687 - 4065. The Eufaula NWR is bordered on the south by Lakepoint State Park.

Links (disclaimer):

Fishing license information may be found at: www.outdooralabama.com/fishing/freshwater/license/. Instant licensing is available via the Internet (2% fee), via the telephone by calling 1-888-848-6887 ($3.95 fee), or at 900 vendors and probate offices in Alabama. All youth age 15 and younger fish for free.

Possession and creel limits for Alabama public waters are listed at: www.outdooralabama.com/fishing/freshwater/regulations/;
The US Corps of Engineers has a map of fish attractors.  ESPN has an interactive map of Lake Eufaula.

Bass fishing quality at Lake Eufaula is assessed from bass club tournament results at www.outdooralabama.com/fishing/freshwater/where/reservoirs/quality/.
If you are a member of a bass club, please consider being a part of our Bass Angler Information Team. We use information from clubs to help better manage your lakes for fishing.

State fish management information and Alabama reservoir location, size and elevation are listed at: www.outdooralabama.com/fishing/freshwater/where/reservoirs/

Find official information on Lakepoint State Park at www.alapark.com/parks/park.cfm?parkid=18
Eufaula's Lakepoint State Park is part of the Alabama Bass Trail.

Information concerning the U.S. Corps of Engineers is listed at: www.sam.usace.army.mil/op/rec/wfg/.
The State of Georgia provides information on Walter F. George Lake (Lake Eufaula). They list a link to "Walter F. George" Lake.
Get information about the Eufaula National Wildlife Refuge at: eufaula.fws.gov/.

It shall be unlawful to intentionally stock or release any fish, mussel, snail, crayfish or their embryos including bait fish into the public waters of Alabama under the jurisdiction of the Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries as provided in Rule 220-2-.42 except those waters from which it came without the written permission of a designated employee of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources authorized by the Director of the Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries to issue such permit. The provisions of this rule shall not apply to the incidental release of bait into the water during the normal process of fishing.

The Fisheries Section's District VI biologists can answer specific questions about Lake Eufaula by sending mail to: ken.weathers@dcnr.alabama.gov.

Prepared by: Fisheries Section, Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. This site is presented for information only the Fisheries Section cannot be responsible for the quality of information or services offered through linked sites, disclaimer. To have your site included, send your URL, email address, or telephone number to the Fisheries Web Master, Doug.Darr@DCNR.Alabama.gov. The Fisheries Section reserves the right to select sites based on relevant and appropriate content, of interest to our viewers. If you discover errors in the content or links of this page, please contact Doug Darr. Thank you.